Describing the Government’s approach to crime-fighting as “simply a public relations gimmick”, opposition Leader Dr Peter Phillips said the much talked about Zone of Special Operation appears to be “just a device to give the impression that dem was doing something to combat the rise in violent crime”.

Peter Phillips

Phillips was speaking at People’s National Party conference in South St Andrew on Thursday night.

He said that the Zone of Special Operations is not a sufficient plan to deal with criminality. Phillips argued that the $2 billion cut in the national security budget this year has severely impacted crime fighting efforts.

Phillips comments come amid a disclosure on Thursday that the first Zone of Special Operations is about to be declared by Prime Minister Andrew Holness. The legislation, which was signed into law one month ago, represents the latest response from the Government to quell the spiraling murder rate.

Phillips said that more than 150 people have been murdered since the law has been passed. In excess of 1,000 persons have been murdered in the first eight month of the year, a 24 per cent over the corresponding period last year.

“The more people die the more silent the prime minister becomes,” Phillips said.

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